Member Spotlight: Meet Mandy Senn-Simmons

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Meet Mandy Senn-Simmons

About Mandy: A mom of three boys, wife, Christian, extrovert, marketing guru, wine-lover, loyal friend, and a super fan of the University of Alabama football - that’s Mandy Senn-Simmons in a nutshell.

Mandy spends her days working with her husband Kris at their video production agency, 6 STRONG MEDIA. As Vice President of Marketing, Mandy employs her master-level relationship building and marketing talents to help her company build a stronger client base around the country. Her team often calls her the "company culture on wheels" because no matter where she goes or who she talks to, she tries to keep morale high, activities fun and ensure people generally feel better about themselves.

Before the 6 STRONG MEDIA days, Mandy held leadership roles with the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, Girls’ Preparatory School, Chattanoogan Hotel and the Leadership Louisville Center.

Mandy’s mantra that she tries to live by come from the great Maya Angleou. “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Q: What motivates you?

A: Seeing others succeed is a huge motivator for me. Whether it’s my employees, family or clients, helping people reach their goals is a huge motivator.

Q: When you’re not working, where and how do you spend your time?

A: As a mother of three and owning a small business, when am I not working?! Seriously, it’s important to enjoy the small moments of free time. Make each moment count! Spending quality time with my boys, or enjoying a quiet moment in the sunshine on my deck or an occasional girls’ happy hour are ways I recalibrate and relax.

Q: What advice do you have for women aspiring to be leaders in their field?

A: Have confidence in yourself, be authentic, get a mentor, and never stop learning. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and raise your hand for help. It’s okay to not know everything. Know your strengths and surround yourself with people that think differently from you and who have different strengths.

Q: Can you name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader? Why and how did this person impact your life?

A: This is such a hard question because I’ve had many role models (bosses, colleagues and mentors) throughout my career who have shaped me into the leader I am today. I’m happy to say that most of these people have been women. They exemplified the fundamental traits of servant leadership, tactful conversations, time-management, and dealing with issues head-on. I’ve learned that you can be “the boss”, while also having compassion and understanding.

Q: What has been your proudest moment in your career?

A: The proudest moment in my career was when I was named as the Director of Community Outreach for the Chattanooga Area Chamber. This was a position that I aspired to when I moved to Chattanooga (from Alabama) for my college-internship at the Chamber. I knew it would take a lot of work and experience to move from intern to Director. A few years passed and then I moved to Louisville, KY. I was in Louisville for a couple of years and really missing Chattanooga. I received a call one day to let me know that the Director of Community Outreach position was available. That was my ticket back to Chattanooga! So, I was hired for this position and returned to my Chamber and Chattanooga family. I’ll never leave again. ☺

Q: What strides do you think members can take to make more of a difference in women’s leadership issues in the local community?

A: Speak up, support and encourage one another. Whether it’s encouraging a female candidate to run for public office or simply helping to encourage more work-life balance programs in business, we have to step and be the champions for ourselves and other women.

Q: How would you best describe the benefit found in joining this organization?

A: I absolutely love CWLI! It’s truly hard to put into words. If possible, I never miss a Leadership Luncheon as it always does my soul good to see badass (Sorry, not sorry!) women doing their thing! I truly enjoy learning about the different leadership styles and seeing how everyone balances it all. The friendships, mentors and network I have created through CWLI are priceless.

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